THE Islamic Development Department (Jakim) said there were no restrictions on festive greetings on cakes for customers to take home.

Jakim’s response came after an internal memo of a bakery chain went viral, in which it told its staff not to write “Merry Christmas” or Xmas greetings on cakes, with the option to give customers a “Seasons Greetings” topper.

“There are no restrictions for any halal-certified store to decorate cakes with festive greetings.

“Halal-certified premises are advised to refer to Jakim over any uncertainty,” it said.

Yesterday, a bakery chain accused of being discriminatory for not allowing Christmas greetings on its cakes said it was merely abiding by a rule set by Jakim.

Berry’s Cake House operations manager Daniel Teoh said the bakery had no choice but to adhere to the ruling or risk losing its halal certificate.

“But we are now being accused as racist, when we are not. We are merely following orders,” he was reported telling Free Malaysia Today after being asked about the internal memo.

“We are not simply doing this (prohibiting Christmas greetings). What would happen if they (Jakim) suddenly audit us? They would revoke our halal certificate,” he said.

A Jakim statement issued in December 2020 said halal-certified shops were allowed to place festive greetings on products if the goods were not meant for display.

Teoh said his memo was meant for internal use, but a staff member who was confronted by a customer had shown his letter to them in defence.

He said Berry’s follows Jakim’s rules strictly and refers to Jakim before releasing any product for sale.

In 2020, then religious affairs minister Zulkifli Mohamad said Christmas greetings would not void any halal certification by Jakim. He said it was only wrong for cake shops to put on public display items bearing Christmas greetings.

However, any request to have greetings piped on cakes ordered by customers was all right, he had said.

Earlier, current Religious Affairs Minister Mohd Na’im Mokhtar said there were no restrictions on writing festive greetings on cakes for customers to take home.

He said he had asked Jakim to clarify the matter.

“I have instructed the halal department under Jakim to issue an immediate statement that explains the matter clearly, especially to halal certificate holders. This will be done as soon as possible.

“I have also asked them to produce a video on the issue to ensure everyone understands,” he was reported as saying late yesterday. – December 17, 2023.